Brain Hemorrhage Lawyers in Kansas City, MO Can Help You Receive Maximum Compensation

We consider humans to be resilient creatures, but no matter how tough and adaptable we may see ourselves, our bodies have limits. In some instances, surpassing these limits can lead to brain bleeding and strokes. If you or a loved one has experienced a brain hemorrhage like this, you may be unsure about the future. While most individuals who suffer from the condition survive, it’s often with serious side effects. The most disheartening part of all this, however, is that these medical emergencies are often linked to the negligent actions of others. If you’re in such a situation, a brain hemorrhage lawyer in Kansas City, MO, may be able to assist.

At Mohlman Gurney Injury Law, our dedicated team of personal injury attorneys has helped many accident victims recover compensation for brain hemorrhages. While it’s possible that this medical condition may be the fault of no one, there are many times when someone is liable. This occurs most frequently when someone suffered a brain injury due to another’s negligence. In fact, traumatic brain injuries are the leading cause of brain hemorrhage for those under 50. Unfortunately, the damage done often doesn’t show itself until it’s too late. Contact Mohlman Gurney Injury Law today for a free consultation and to learn how we can help.

What is a Brain Hemorrhage?

A brain hemorrhage, otherwise known as a cerebral hemorrhage or brain bleed, is a potentially life-threatening type of stroke caused by blood vessels inside the brain that become damaged and begin to bleed. This causes pressure and localized blood pooling within the brain tissue itself—or between the brain and the skull—resulting in potential clotting, loss of oxygen, and damage to the brain cells. This constitutes a full-scale medical emergency. High blood pressure and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are the leading causes of hemorrhage in the brain.

Unfortunately, there are no tell-tale symptoms of a brain hemorrhage that apply in every case. Symptoms can vary based on how the hemorrhage occurred (e.g., traumatic brain injuries vs high blood pressure), where the hemorrhage is located, and other factors. The one thing that’s consistent is that medical care should be sought immediately. In some instances, those with the condition may be lucky enough to already be at the hospital. This occurs when a traumatic brain injury results from a serious accident. However, brain bleeding may be completely unrelated to an accident—or even not become apparent until long after such an accident.

Regardless of the specifics of your circumstances, you should speak with a Kansas City brain injury attorney. Even if you weren’t involved in an accident resulting from negligence, it doesn’t mean that no one is responsible for your brain injury. It’s possible that a failure to maintain an appropriate standard of medical care could have caused additional damage. You deserve to know exactly why you’re going through this difficulty, and in some cases, this could lead to compensation through a settlement or personal injury lawsuit.

How a Brain Hemorrhage Damages the Brain

A brain hemorrhage can happen in two main areas inside the brain cavity. One is where the bleeding occurs inside the skull in between the membranes that protect the brain from the skull. The other type of brain hemorrhage is where the bleeding occurs inside the brain tissue itself. Unfortunately, the human brain is unable to store oxygen. It relies on blood vessels to bring oxygen and nutrients to it. The pooling of collected blood during a brain hemorrhage can cut off this flow—depriving the brain of essential oxygen.

When the brain is deprived of oxygen, brain cells begin to die. Even when no trauma is involved, this is one of the most significant brain injuries a person can suffer. Additionally, nerves and corresponding body functions can be damaged as well. Once brain cells die off, they do not regenerate. This means that a brain hemorrhage can result in serious mental and physical disabilities. In such cases, you should immediately reach out to a Kansas City brain injury attorney. Medical bills will be far from your only loss in such a situation, so it’s imperative to hold any liable parties accountable for their negligence.

How Serious is a Brain Hemorrhage?

While a stroke is serious in any circumstance, not all brain injury cases are the same. They can differ depending on a variety of factors. In the end, these factors could affect the level of brain damage sustained, the necessity for rehabilitation medicine specialist services, recovery time, and a variety of other issues:

What caused the hemorrhage
The size of the bleed
Where it is located inside the skull
How long it took to get treatment
The victim’s age and general health.

Although a brain hemorrhage is more commonly associated with older adults, individuals of any age can suffer from it. If you or an injured loved one aren’t over 50, though, it’s likely that a traumatic brain injury resulting from an accident or assault is the culprit. In such situations, a brain hemorrhage lawyer in Kansas City, MO, may be able to help you recover compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, medical bills, future therapy needs, and much more. Regardless of your age, reach out to Mohlman Gurney Injury Law to learn how we can help.

Traumatic Brain Injuries and Other Hemorrhage Causes

The Kansas City brain injury lawyers at Mohlman Gurney Injury Law have seen hemorrhages caused by brain injury, health conditions, and more. Understanding such causes can help you avoid this condition if you’ve yet to be affected. If you or a loved one has experienced brain bleeding, though, the following list can also help you understand what led to your condition.

Head trauma in a fall, car accident, or other mishaps
High blood pressure that damages and weakens the vessel walls
A build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries
A blood clot that has formed in the brain
A blood clot that has moved to the brain from another area of the body
A ruptured blood vessel in the brain
Amyloid protein buildup within the brain’s artery walls
Abnormally formed artery and vein connections in the brain
Bleeding disorders
Anticoagulant therapy
A brain tumor
Drug use, heavy alcohol use, or smoking
Certain prescription or over-the-counter drugs
Some conditions related to pregnancy
Certain conditions related to abnormal collagen formation in vessel walls

Unfortunately, some of these causes are occasionally linked to medical malpractice. For instance, a doctor could overlook a hemorrhage symptom that’s common in traumatic brain injury patients. If this occurs, some of the causes listed above (e.g., blood clots, ruptured vessels) could happen right there in the hospital. While the doctor themselves may not have caused the brain injuries suffered in your accident, their failure to maintain a standard quality of care could lead to unnecessary disabilities.

In many brain injury cases, though, victims aren’t quite sure exactly what led to their hemorrhage. This is normal. Fortunately, a brain hemorrhage attorney in Kansas City, MO, can investigate your condition, identify all liable parties, and hold them accountable.

Brain Hemorrhage Symptoms

Depending on the size of the bleed and what area of the brain is involved, symptoms of a brain hemorrhage can vary dramatically. Many of these can also show up as brain injury symptoms when hemorrhaging is not occurring. This is why it’s so important for brain injury victims to seek medical care regardless of their specific circumstances. If you are suffering from a hemorrhage, though, you may experience the following symptoms:

Weakness, numbness, tingling, or paralysis of the face or one side of the body
Headache, often with severe and sudden “thunderclap” pain
Balance or coordination issues
Dizziness
Confusion
Nausea and vomiting
Difficulty swallowing
Stiff neck
Loss of vision or difficulty seeing
Slurred or abnormal speech
Light sensitivity
Difficulty reading or writing
Abnormal heart rate
Difficulty breathing
Lethargy
Seizures
Change in consciousness or alertness

Although symptoms of some brain hemorrhages can be sudden, some may take days or even weeks to become apparent. Symptoms may be mild at first and then develop as the pressure increases on the brain. As more blood fills the cavity inside the skull or in the brain itself, symptoms will often become more severe.

A suspected brain hemorrhage should be considered a medical emergency and treated immediately. It is critical to get to emergency facilities as soon as possible to get brain bleeding diagnosed, and treatment started. The sooner treatment begins, the less potential for a serious brain injury. This can improve the chances of recovery.

How do Doctors Detect a Brain Hemorrhage?

If a brain hemorrhage is suspected, a physician will evaluate the symptoms first. If the symptoms appear consistent with a brain hemorrhage, the doctor may use various imaging tests to diagnose the hemorrhage. These can include a CT scan (computed tomography), an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), or an MRA (magnetic resonance angiogram). These tests can help determine the location and extent of a suspected brain hemorrhage and sometimes even the cause.

Other tests that the doctor may order include:

Electroencephalogram, a chest X-ray, or a urinalysis
A CBC (complete blood count), avascular study, or other blood studies
A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to detect blood in the cerebrospinal fluid around the brain
Conventional angiography to identify any aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation

How a Brain Bleed is Treated

Individuals who have been diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage must be monitored closely for heart rhythm, oxygen levels, and skull pressure with early intervention to stabilize blood pressure and breathing. Sometimes, a ventilator may be required to ensure that there is enough oxygen going to the brain and other organs. Once the person has been stabilized, the attending physicians must make decisions about their next moves rapidly. If decisions are not made properly, and something goes wrong, you may be in need of a Kansas City brain bleed lawyer.

Depending on the size and location of the bleed, surgery may be required if:

There is an immediate need for decompression
An aneurysm is found that can be sealed off or clipped
An AVM (arteriovenous malformation) is found that can be surgically removed

Some brain hemorrhages don’t require surgery but instead can be treated by using:

Anti-anxiety medications
Medications to control blood pressure
Anti-epileptic drugs used for seizure control
Medications to control pain symptoms
Intravenous or gastronomy tube delivery of fluids and nutrients

Other options for long-term treatment can include physical and occupational therapies and speech therapies to address lost functions. Physicians will also typically recommend lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of another future brain hemorrhage.

What is the Prognosis for a Brain Hemorrhage?

The survival rate for brain hemorrhages is dependent on the cause of the hemorrhage, its size and location, and how quickly and successfully treatment was administered. While the majority of people who have suffered a brain hemorrhage will survive, it may leave many with a loss of basic skills such as speech function and the ability to perform everyday tasks.

Brain Hemorrhage Lawyers in Kansas City can Help

Experiencing a brain hemorrhage is a scary event. So many factors come into play that will determine the end results of your overall health. If you or a family member have suffered symptoms of a brain hemorrhage, getting emergency attention immediately is vital. The sooner a brain hemorrhage is diagnosed and treated, the better the long-term prognosis.

Even when treatment is given quickly, though, the potential for long-term damage persists. This can occur with any stroke or brain injury case. If you’ve suffered a stroke due to brain bleeding, it’s important to seek legal counsel to better understand your rights. There’s a chance that there is no at-fault party for your injury, but this is something you can discuss with a free consultation at Mohlman Gurney Injury Law.

Contact us today by calling (816) 648-6000 to schedule your free case evaluation. With a brain hemorrhage lawyer in Kansas City, MO, on your side, you’ll have a better chance of securing fair compensation if another person’s recklessness caused your head injuries, inappropriate treatment, or other negligent acts.